System and method of controlling a flush toilet

ABSTRACT

A system of controlling a flush toilet, which includes a first flushing channel and a second flushing channel, and the system contains: a depressurizing valve including an inlet connecting with an inlet pipe fitting, a first outlet, and a second outlet; a first water-supply pipe fitting employed to supply water from the first outlet toward the first flushing channel; a second water-supply pipe fitting applied to supply the water from the second outlet toward the second flushing channel; a first solenoid valve controlled to start and stop the first water-supply pipe fitting. The system also contains a second solenoid valve controlled to start and stop the second water-supply pipe fitting; a water pressure sensor for sensing a water pressure in the depressurizing valve and transmitting a pressure signal; and a control unit for receiving a flushing signal started by a user and the pressure signal from the water pressure sensor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flush toilet, and more particularlyto a system and a method of controlling the flush toilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional flush toilet contains a water tank(not shown) and a toilet body 10; the toilet body 10 includes a bowl 11,an inlet portion 12, a support portion 13, and a sewage draining conduit14. The support portion 13 is integrally connected with a front side anda bottom end of the bowl 11. The bowl 11 includes a first flushingconduit 111 arranged on a peripheral side of a top end thereof andcommunicates with the inlet portion 12, the first flushing conduit 111has a plurality of spouts 112 for flowing water from the water tanktoward the bowl 11 via the inlet portion 12 and the first flushingconduit 111, such that the peripheral ring 113 or a seat ring of thetoilet body 10 is flushed by the water. The bowl 11 also includes aflushing conduit 114 formed on a side wall thereof and a nozzle 115defined on a distal end thereof so that the water from the water tankflows toward the sewage draining conduit 14 through the inlet portion 12and the flushing conduit 114. The sewage draining conduit 14 is incommunication with the bowl 11 so that the water flushes dirt out of thesewage draining conduit 14 through the plurality of spouts 112 and thenozzle 115.

The conventional flush toilet matches with a control device or a valveto control water flow. Furthermore, a regulator valve or adepressurizing valve cooperates with the flush toilet to maintain awater pressure stably, for example, a conventional flow stabilizer forreducing the water pressure automatically is disclosed in CN PublicationNo. 102678994A.

However, the regulator valve, the depressurizing valve, and the flowstabilizer can only stabilize the water pressure within a certain range,but they cannot keep a fixed water flow at a low water pressure or ahigh water pressure. For instance, when the conventional flow stabilizeris actually tested at the low water pressure or the high pressure, thewater flow is decreased 20%.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a system and a methodof controlling a flush toilet which supply water stably to drain dirtand filth strongly.

To obtain the above, a system of controlling a flush toilet, whichincludes a first flushing channel and a second flushing channel, and thesystem contains:

a depressurizing valve including an inlet, a first outlet, and a secondoutlet; the inlet being in connection with an inlet pipe fitting;

a first water-supply pipe fitting employed to supply water from thefirst outlet of the depressurizing valve toward the first flushingchannel of the flush toilet;

a second water-supply pipe fitting applied to supply the water from thesecond outlet of the depressurizing valve toward the second flushingchannel of the flush toilet;

a first solenoid valve controlled to start and stop the firstwater-supply pipe fitting;

a second solenoid valve controlled to start and stop the secondwater-supply pipe fitting;

a water pressure sensor used to sense a water pressure in thedepressurizing valve and to transmit a pressure signal;

a control unit served to receive a flushing signal started by a user andthe pressure signal from the water pressure sensor, such that afterreceiving the flushing signal, a starting and closing sequence andstarting times of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valveare controlled based on the pressure signal.

The control unit determines a first start time, a second start time anda third start time according to the pressure signal received from thewater pressure sensor and starts the first solenoid valve for T1 secondsand then closes the first solenoid valve, and the control unit startsthe second solenoid valve for T2 seconds and then closes the secondsolenoid valve; the first solenoid valve is started by the control unitfor seconds and then is closed, wherein first start time, the secondstart time, and the third start time of the first solenoid valve and thesecond solenoid valve are not overlapped.

In addition, a method of controlling a flush toilet comprising steps of:

a. receiving a flushing signal started by a user by ways of a controlunit;

b. determining a first start time, a second start time, and a thirdstart time by using the control unit based on a water pressure in adepressurizing valve;

c. starting a first solenoid valve so that a peripheral ring on a flushtoilet is flushed by a water for T1 seconds, and then closing the firstsolenoid valve after the peripheral ring is flushed;

d. starting a second solenoid valve so that a sewage draining conduit isflushed for T2 seconds by the water and then closing the second solenoidvalve after the sewage draining conduit is flushed;

e. starting the first solenoid valve again so that the peripheral ringon the flush toilet is flushed by the water for T3 seconds and then thefirst solenoid valve is closed after the peripheral ring is flushed;

f. flashing the steps a, b, c, d and e.

The water pressure in the depressurizing valve is sensed by a waterpressure sensor.

The first solenoid valve is mounted at a predetermined position of afirst water-supply pipe fitting which connects with the depressurizingvalve, and the first solenoid valve is coupled with a first flushingchannel of the flush toilet.

The second solenoid valve is fixed at a predetermined position of asecond water-supply pipe fitting which joins with the depressurizingvalve, and the second solenoid valve is in connection with a secondflushing channel of the flush toilet.

It is to be noted that the starting times of the first solenoid valveand the second solenoid valve are not overlapped, so the first starttime, the second start time, and the third start time are independent,such that a part of the water is supplied to flush the peripheral ringof the first flushing channel or the nozzle in the same time.Accordingly, the water is entirely flushed toward a single flushingconduit, such as the first flushing channel or the second flushingconduit, thus draining the dirt and the filth strongly.

Preferably, the first start time, the second start time, and the thirdstart time are determined based on the water pressure in thedepressurizing valve sensed by the water pressure sensor, and thepressure signal is calculated and determined by the control unit, suchthat when the water pressure is low, the starting times of the firstsolenoid valve and the second solenoid valve are prolonged. In contrast,when the water pressure is high, the starting times of the firstsolenoid valve and the second solenoid valve are shorten. Therefore, asflushing the water toward the peripheral ring of the first flushingchannel or the sewage draining conduit, the water is supplied stablyeven through the water supply is at a low pressure or a high pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional flush toilet.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a system of controlling a flushtoilet being applied in the flush toilet according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the system of controlling the flushtoilet according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,wherein a solid line shows a water supply arrangement, and a dotted lineshows an electric circuit and a signal arrangement.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the system of controlling the flushtoilet being applied in the flush toilet according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention, wherein the system contains adepressurizing valve, a water pressure sensor, a first solenoid valve, asecond solenoid valve, and a control unit.

FIG. 5 is a block flow chart of a method of controlling a flush toiletaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 2-3, a system of controlling a flush toilet 20according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flushtoilet 20 includes a first flushing channel 21 and a second flushingchannel 22, and the system of controlling the flush toilet 20 comprisesa depressurizing valve 31, a first water-supply pipe fitting 32, asecond water-supply pipe fitting 33, a first solenoid valve 34, a secondsolenoid valve 35, a water pressure sensor 36, and a control unit 37.

As shown in FIG. 4, the depressurizing valve 31 includes an inlet 311, afirst outlet 312, and a second outlet 313. The inlet 311 is inconnection with an inlet pipe fitting 314. The inlet pipe fitting 314 iscoupled with a water supply 40.

The first water-supply pipe fitting 32 is employed to supply water fromthe first outlet 312 of the depressurizing valve 31 toward the firstflushing channel 21 of the flush toilet 20. The first flushing channel21 communicates with a plurality of spouts 211 to flush the water towarda peripheral ring 23 on the flush toilet 20.

The second water-supply pipe fitting 33 is applied to supply the waterfrom the second outlet 313 of the depressurizing valve 31 toward thesecond flushing channel 22 of the flush toilet 20. The second flushingchannel 22 is joined with a nozzle 221 to flush the water toward asewage draining conduit 24.

The first solenoid valve 34 is controlled to start and stop the firstwater-supply pipe fitting 32. In this embodiment, the first solenoidvalve 34 is mounted in the first outlet 312 of the depressurizing valve31. But the first solenoid valve 34 can be also mounted at any positionof the first water-supply pipe fitting 32.

The second solenoid valve 35 is controlled to start and stop the secondwater-supply pipe fitting 33. In this embodiment, the second solenoidvalve 35 is fixed in the second outlet 313 of the depressurizing valve31. But the second solenoid valve 35 can be also fixed at any positionof the second water-supply pipe fitting 33.

The water pressure sensor 36 is used to sense a water pressure in thedepressurizing valve 31 and to transmit a pressure signal P.

The control unit 37 is served to receive a flushing signal W started bya user and the pressure signal P from the water pressure sensor 36, suchthat after receiving the flushing signal W, a starting and closingsequence and starting times of the first solenoid valve 34 and thesecond solenoid valve 35 are controlled based on the pressure signal P.

The flushing signal W is produced after the user starts a mechanicaloperation, such as touching a switch (such as a handle or a button). Inaddition, the flushing signal W is produced after a untouch operation,for instance, after the user triggers a sensing device, such as aninfrared sensing device.

The control unit 37 is any one of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a MPU(Micro Processing Unit), and a MCU (Micro Control Unit). A DC powersupply, such as a battery 38, supplies power to the control unit 37.

The water pressure sensor 36 is a mechanical sensor or an electronicsensor.

The control unit 37 determines a first start time T1, a second starttime T2, and a third start time T3 according to the pressure signal Preceived from the water pressure sensor 36 and starts the first solenoidvalve 34 for T1 seconds and then closes the first solenoid valve 34,thereafter the control unit 37 starts the second solenoid valve 35 forT2 seconds and then closes the second solenoid valve 35. Finally, thefirst solenoid valve 34 is started by the control unit 37 for T3 secondsand then is closed.

Referring further to FIG. 4, to simplify structure and installation, thedepressurizing valve 31, the water pressure sensor 36, the firstsolenoid valve 34, the second solenoid valve 35, and the control unit 37are installed in a controlling box 37.

The method of controlling the flush toilet 20 according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention comprises steps of:

a. receiving the flushing signal W started by the user by ways of thecontrol unit 37;

b. determining the first start time T1, the second start time

T2, and the third start time T3 by using the control unit 37 based onthe water pressure in the depressurizing valve 31;

c. starting the first solenoid valve 34 so that the peripheral ring 23on the flush toilet 20 is flushed by the water for T1 seconds, and thenclosing the first solenoid valve 34 after the peripheral ring 23 isflushed;

d. starting the second solenoid valve 35 so that the sewage drainingconduit 24 is flushed by the water for T2 seconds and then closing thesecond solenoid valve 35 after the sewage draining conduit 24 isflushed;

e. starting the first solenoid valve 34 again so that the peripheralring 23 on the flush toilet 20 is flushed by the water for T3 secondsand then the first solenoid valve 34 is closed after the peripheral ring23 is flushed;

f. flashing the steps a, b, c, d and e.

The flushing signal W is produced after the user starts the mechanicaloperation, such as touching the switch (such as the handle or thebutton). In addition, the flushing signal W is produced after theuntouch operation, for instance, after the user triggers the sensingdevice, such as an infrared sensing device.

The water pressure in the depressurizing valve 31 is sensed by the waterpressure sensor 36.

The first solenoid valve 34 is mounted at a predetermined position ofthe first water-supply pipe fitting 32 which connects with thedepressurizing valve 31, and the first solenoid valve 34 is coupled withthe first flushing channel 21 of the flush toilet 20. The secondsolenoid valve 35 is fixed at a predetermined position of the secondwater-supply pipe fitting 33 which joins with the depressurizing valve31, and the second solenoid valve 35 is in connection with the secondflushing channel 22 of the flush toilet 20.

Thereby, the system and the method of controlling the flush toilet ofthe present invention automatically control the starting and closingsequence and the starting times of the first solenoid valve 34 and thesecond solenoid valve 35 by means of the control unit 37, wherein thestarting and closing sequence of the first solenoid valve 34 and thesecond solenoid valve 35 is to start and then to close the firstsolenoid valve 34, to start and then to close the second solenoid valve35, and to start and then to close the first solenoid valve 34 again.For example, the first solenoid valve 34 is started and then is closedso that dirt on the peripheral ring 23 is flushed toward a water seal,and the second solenoid valve 35 is started and then is closed so thatthe dirt and filth on the water seal is flushed toward the sewagedraining conduit 24, thereafter the first solenoid valve 34 is startedagain to supply the water toward the water seal.

It is to be noted that the starting times of the first solenoid valve 34and the second solenoid valve 35 are not overlapped, so the first starttime T1, the second start time T2, and the third start time T3 areindependent, such that a part of the water is supplied to flush theperipheral ring 23 of the first flushing channel 21 or the nozzle 211 inthe same time. Accordingly, the water is entirely flushed toward asingle flushing conduit, such as the first flushing channel 21 or thesecond flushing conduit 22, thus draining the dirt and the filthstrongly.

Preferably, the first start time T1, the second start time T2, and thethird start time T3 are determined based on the water pressure in thedepressurizing valve 31 sensed by the water pressure sensor 36, and thepressure signal P is calculated and determined by the control unit 37,such that when the water pressure is low, the starting times of thefirst solenoid valve 34 and the second solenoid valve 35 are prolonged.In contrast, when the water pressure is high, the starting times of thefirst solenoid valve 34 and the second solenoid valve 35 are shorten.Therefore, as flushing the water toward the peripheral ring 23 of thefirst flushing channel 21 or the sewage draining conduit 24, the wateris supplied stably even through the water supply 40 is at a low pressureor a high pressure.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth forthe purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments ofthe invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to thoseskilled in the art. The scope of the claims should not be limited by thepreferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given thebroadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system of controlling a flush toilet, whichincludes a first flushing channel and a second flushing channel, and thesystem comprising: a depressurizing valve including an inlet, a firstoutlet, and a second outlet; the inlet being in connection with an inletpipe fitting; a first water-supply pipe fitting employed to supply waterfrom the first outlet of the depressurizing valve toward the firstflushing channel of the flush toilet; a second water-supply pipe fittingapplied to supply the water from the second outlet of the depressurizingvalve toward the second flushing channel of the flush toilet; a firstsolenoid valve controlled to start and stop the first water-supply pipefitting; a second solenoid valve controlled to start and stop the secondwater-supply pipe fitting; a water pressure sensor used to sense a waterpressure in the depressurizing valve and to transmit a pressure signal;a control unit served to receive a flushing signal started by a user andthe pressure signal from the water pressure sensor, such that afterreceiving the flushing signal, a starting and closing sequence andstarting times of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valveare controlled based on the pressure signal.
 2. The system ofcontrolling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat the first flushing channel communicates with a plurality of spoutsto flush the water toward a peripheral ring on the flush toilet.
 3. Thesystem of controlling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the second flushing channel is joined with anozzle to flush the water toward a sewage draining conduit.
 4. Thesystem of controlling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the flushing signal is produced after the userstarts a mechanical operation.
 5. The system of controlling the flushtoilet as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the flushing signalis produced after the user touches a switch.
 6. The system ofcontrolling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat the flushing signal is produced after a untouch operation.
 7. Thesystem of controlling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the flushing signal is produced after the usertriggers a sensing device.
 8. The system of controlling the flush toiletas claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control unit is any oneof a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and aMCU (Micro Control Unit).
 9. The system of controlling the flush toiletas claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the water pressure sensoris a mechanical sensor or an electronic sensor.
 10. The system ofcontrolling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat the control unit determines a first start time, a second start timeand a third start time according to the pressure signal received fromthe water pressure sensor and starts the first solenoid valve for T1seconds and then closes the first solenoid valve, and the control unitstarts the second solenoid valve for T2 seconds and then closes thesecond solenoid valve; the first solenoid valve is started by thecontrol unit for T3 seconds and then is closed, wherein first starttime, the second start time, and the third start time of the firstsolenoid valve and the second solenoid valve are not overlapped.
 11. Thesystem of controlling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising a DC power supply supplying power to the control unit.
 12. Amethod of controlling a flush toilet comprising steps of: a. receiving aflushing signal started by a user by ways of a control unit; b.determining a first start time, a second start time, and a third starttime by using the control unit based on a water pressure in adepressurizing valve; c. starting a first solenoid valve so that aperipheral ring on a flush toilet is flushed by a water for T1 seconds,and then closing the first solenoid valve after the peripheral ring isflushed; d. starting a second solenoid valve so that a sewage drainingconduit is flushed by the water for T2 seconds and then closing thesecond solenoid valve after the sewage draining conduit is flushed; e.starting the first solenoid valve again so that the peripheral ring onthe flush toilet is flushed by the water for T3 seconds and then thefirst solenoid valve is closed after the peripheral ring is flushed; f.flashing the steps a, b, c, d and e.
 13. The method of controlling theflush toilet as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the flushingsignal is produced after the user starts a mechanical operation
 14. Themethod of controlling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 12,characterized in that the flushing signal is produced after the usertouches a switch.
 15. The method of controlling a flush toilet asclaimed in claim 12, characterized in that the flushing signal isproduced after a untouch operation.
 16. The method of controlling theflush toilet as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the flushingsignal is produced after the user triggers a sensing device.
 17. Themethod of controlling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 12,characterized in that the control unit is any one of a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit), a MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and a MCU (MicroControl Unit).
 18. The method of controlling the flush toilet as claimedin claim 12, characterized in that the water pressure in thedepressurizing valve is sensed by a water pressure sensor.
 19. Themethod of controlling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 12,characterized in that the water pressure sensor is a mechanical sensoror an electronic sensor.
 20. The method of controlling the flush toiletas claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the first solenoid valveis mounted at a predetermined position of a first water-supply pipefitting which connects with the depressurizing valve, and the firstsolenoid valve is coupled with a first flushing channel of the flushtoilet.
 21. The method of controlling the flush toilet as claimed inclaim 12, characterized in that the second solenoid valve is fixed at apredetermined position of a second water-supply pipe fitting which joinswith the depressurizing valve, and the second solenoid valve is inconnection with a second flushing channel of the flush toilet.
 22. Themethod of controlling the flush toilet as claimed in claim 12,characterized in that a DC power supply supplies power to the controlunit.